Compare towns
Rockland vs Wells vs Caribou
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Rockland has the most people working from home (22.1%).
Wells has grown the fastest since 2010 (+18%).
Caribou has the most affordable homes ($134k median).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Rockland | Wells | Caribou |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,035Lowest |
11,713Highest |
7,382 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.9% ME: +2.6% |
+18%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-9.7%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.3±6Lowest 10% above ME |
53.6±3.8Highest 20% above ME |
51.3±1.7 15% above ME |
| Wells and Caribou are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.5%±3.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
18%±3.4Highest ME: 18.1% |
16.2%±2.7 ME: 18.1% |
| Wells and Caribou are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.4%±4.2Lowest ME: 22.4% |
31%±3.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
27.3%±4 ME: 22.4% |
| Wells and Caribou are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.6% ME: 36.2% |
43.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
28.8%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±2.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.5%±1.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.4%±1.2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Wells and Rockland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $56,533±$6k 24% below ME |
$88,024±$11kHighest 18% above ME |
$53,709±$9kLowest 28% below ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $245,800±$38k 17% below ME |
$485,300±$23kHighest 64% above ME |
$134,100±$31kLowest 55% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,092±$105 4% below ME |
$1,350±$297Highest 19% above ME |
$757±$143Lowest 34% below ME |
| Wells and Rockland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,059Highest 34% above ME |
$3,215 6% above ME |
$1,680Lowest 45% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.6%±15.3Highest ME: 48.4% |
42.1%±19.6Lowest ME: 48.4% |
45.3%±10.5 ME: 48.4% |
| Rockland and Caribou are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.4% ME: 10.7% |
6.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
15.5%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
90.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
72.3% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1948Lowest 29 yrs older than ME |
1989Highest 12 yrs newer than ME |
1960 17 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 12 minLowest 50% below ME |
28 minHighest 12% above ME |
15 min 40% below ME |
| Work from home | 22.1%±7.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
17.8%±4.2 ME: 15.9% |
12.5%±3.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Rockland and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #96 of 133 in ME | #22 of 133 in ME | #59 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Rockland-Region 8 · RSU 13 | Wells-Ogunquit CSD | RSU 39 |
| High school in town | Oceanside High School | Wells High School | Caribou High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Lowest |
11.4 |
14.2Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
ME average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.